Control device



Dec. 29, 1942. D. D. WILE 2,306,768

CONTROL DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 11, 1956 INVENTOR F 1&3 v awe M K MA4, ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1942 CONTROL DEVICE Daniel D. Wile,Utica, N. Y., assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Original application September 11,1936, SerialNo. 100,264, now Patent 'No. 2,190,464, dated February 13, 1940. Dividedand this application January 16, 1940, Serial No. 314,066

11 Claims.

My invention relates generally to control devices and more particularlyto expansion valves for controlling the admittance of a refrigerantmedium to a refrigerant evaporator.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an expansion valvehaving new and improved means connecting the valve member and theactuating means.

Another object of my invention is to provide an expansion valve having anew and improved diaphragm structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide an expansion valve having anew and improved arrangement of the operating and associated partsthereof.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination ofparts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of whichwill be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, to be taken as a part of thisspecification, I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention, inwhich drawing Figure 1 is a view shown in vertical central cross sectionof my improved expansion valve;

Fig. 2 is a view shown in elevation of one of the parts of my expansionvalve;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view shown in cross section of a modified formof diaphragm construction for my expansion valve;

Fig. 4 is a view shown in elevation of a spider or reenforcing memberemployed in the diaphragm structure of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 5 is a view shown in elevation of a plate or abutment memberemployed in the diaphragm structure of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, my expansion Valvehas a casing including a body I which may be of general cylindricalshape, preferably having a longitudinally extending, centrally disposed,bored recess 2 that opens through the lower end thereof. In the recessedwall of bore 2 there is preferably provided a bored recess 3 ofrelatively small diameter that preferably aligns axially with bore 2,and the bore 3 may be internally threaded for receiving a tubularfitting, or valve seat member 4. The valve seat member 4 preferably hasan external annular flange 5 that positions in bore 2 and abuts therecessed wall thereof. Preferably the body I is provided with an inletbore Sfor housing a strainer member 'I, and the bore 6 may extendlongitudinally of the bore 2 and comunicate with bore 3 through alaterally extending bore 8. The inlet bore 6 55 may be connected to arefrigerant supply conduit (not shown) in any suitable manner.Communieating with the centrally disposed bore 2 there is an outlet 9which may be in the form of a bore that may be internally threaded forconnection to a refrigerant evaporator (not shown).

In the present construction the valve seat member 4 is provided with aninsert member If! in its lower end that may be press-fitted or otherwisesecured thereto, and the insert member l9 has an aperture or bore Htherethrough that connects bores 2 and 3 and provides a port and adownwardly facing valve seat l2. The bore 2 provides a valve chamber andflow passage for refrigerant, and disposed therein is a reciprocal valvemember 13 preferably having an upwardly directed, conical face it forcooperation with the valve seat 12 to control flow of refrigerantthrough the port. The valve member l3 preferably has an end portionfitted into a tubular carrier member against an internal, upwardlyfacing shoulder l6 in the member l5 for rigidly securing the members l3and [5 together. An abutment member I1, preferably in the form of a nut,is threaded onto the upper end of the carrier member IS, the nutpreferably having an external annular flange I8. The nut or'abutmentmember I1 is preferably threaded only partway onto the tubular carriermember I5 so as to provide an upwardly facing annular space between theouter face of the valve member [3 and the inner wall surface of the nutfor receiving solder 26 or other suit- I able means for securing thecarrier member l5,

valve member l3 and nut ll rigidly together.

The bore 2 is closed by a closure member 2| that may screw threadthereinto, and the closure member 2| preferably has a centrallydisposed, threaded aperture therethrough for receiving a combinationadjustment and guide member 22. The guide member 22 preferably has arod-like portion 23 of reduced diameter that projects into bore 2, andthe reduced portion 23 preferably has a slightly enlarged inner endportion 24 that slidably positions in the tubular carrier member [5 forguiding the same. The reduced portion 23 provides an upwardly facingannular shouder 24 on the member 22, and seating on the shoulder 2 5within bore 2 there is a platelike abutment member 25 having a centrallydisposed aperture for receiving the reduced portion 23 of member 22.Surrounding the valve carrier member l5 there is a helical coil spring26 having one end abutting the abutment member 25 and the other endabutting the flange 18 of I 5, the end portion seating.

abutment member H, the spring 26 being under compression acting to movethe valve member I3 toward its seat I2.

The upper end wall of the body I is recessed, as at 21, and the innerside wall defining the recess is preferably circular in contour andstepped, providing an internal, upwardly facing shoulder or seatingsurface 28. Seated on the shoulder 28 there is a movable wall means ordiaphragm 29 having an upturned, annular flange 30 that preferably liesflat against the inner side wall surface of the body I. The diaphragm 29cooperates with the inner side and recessed wall of the body I toprovide a pressure chamber 30 that communicates with bore 2 through aconnecting bore 3!. Positioned flat against each side of the diaphragm29 and supported on the shoulder 28 there is a plate-like reenforcingmember or spider 32, and these members 32 may be of like construction.One of the reenforcing members or spiders 32 is shown in Fig. 2 and, asshown, is preferably formed having a centrally disposed plate portion 33integrally connected to a flat, ring-like border portion'34 by spaced,radially extending, integral arms 35. Spaced inwardly from its outerperiphery the diaphragm 29 is preferably provided with the usualcontinuous, embossed or bent portion 35 to provide for movement of thecentral portion of the diaphragm, within the confines of the embossedportion, without transmission of such movement, or of strain, to theouter border portion of the diaphragm. Also, the connecting members 35of each of the reenforcing members 32 are preferably provided withembossed or bent portions 3! so that the central portions 33 of thesemembers may move freely without placing a strain on, or transmittingmovement to the border portions 34, and these embossed portions 31preferably overlie the diaphragm embossed portion 36,

Mounted on the upper end of the body I there is a tubular shaped housingor extension member 38 having an open end extending into the body recessand seating on the upper reenforcing member 32, on an outer borderportion thereof overlying the annular shoulder 28. The diaphragm 29cooperates with the housing 38 to provide a closed chamber 33. At itslower end the extension member 38 preferably has an outturned annularflange 39, the outer peripheral surface of which preferably engages theinner wall surface of the diaphragm flange 30. An upper end portion ofthe body I and an upper end portion of the diaphragm flange 30 projectabove the upper face of the housing flange 39 and are bent inwardlyleaving, however, an annular space or channel between the extension walland the bent flange and body wall portion for receiving solder 40, orother suitable means for securing the body I, diaphragm 29, reenforcingmembers 32, and extension member 38 together and for sealing chambers 39and 38 In the present instance, the extension member 38 is formed havingan upwardly extending, reduced portion or neck 42, and between the neck42 and the flange 39 the extension member 38 has an offset,substantially horizontally disposed wall 43 that is spaced above and issubstantially parallel with the diaphragm 29 and serves to limit upwardflexing movement thereof. An upper end portion of the neck 42 may beinternally threaded to receive an adjustment member 44, preferably anexternally threaded closure plug. The closure plug 44 preferably has abored recess 45 opening through its lower end into the extension member38, and. the recessed wall of the closure plug preferably has acentrally disposed, downwardly directed extended portion 45, the lowerend portion of which may be pointed or conical to engage in 'a recess inthe upper face of a removable abutment member 41. Carried by the upperreenforcing member or spider 32, on the upper face thereof, there is areenforcing or abutment member 48 in the form of a plate, and preferablythe plate 48 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the central ormovable portion 33 of the spider 32. The abutment plate 48 is preferablyformed having an upwardly extending outer border portion 49 positionedto engage the housing horizontal wall 43 to limit upward flexingmovement of the diaphragm 29 and a fiat central portion 49*. Within theextension member 38 there is a helical coil spring 50 having one end, orits upper end, abutting the abutment member 41 and its other, or lowerend, abutting the plate 48 that is carried by the upper spider 32. Theupper spring abutment member preferably has a centrally disposed,downwardly directed extended portion 5| that positions wit in theuppermost coil of the spring 50 and prevents undue lateral movement ofthe upper end of the spring. The abutment plate 4-3 preferably has aplurality of spaced, upturned tabs 5| that position around the lower endportion of the spring 56 and limit lateral movement of the lower end ofthe spring. The spring 53 is under compression and acts to flex thediaphragm 29 in a downward direction.

Carried by the lower reenforcing member or spider 32, on the undersidethereof, there is a reenforcing or abutment plate 52 that is preferablywelded or otherwise suitably secured to the central or movable portion33 of member 32. Disposed in spaced relation around the valve seatmember 4 there is a plurality of apertures or bores extendinglongitudinally of the body I through the wall separating bore 2 and therecessed end of the body, and these bores slidably receive thrustmembers or pins 53, the upper ends of which project into chamber 39 andabut the underside of the plate 52. In the present instance, there arethree of the pins 53 and these pins project into bore 2 and their lowerends abut a removable abutment member 54 carried by the abutment memberor nut I! of the valve structure. An upper end portion of the nut I1 ispreferably spherical in shape or has a convex surface, and the abutmentplate 54 has a centrally disposed aperture therethrough providing asocket for receiving an upper end portion of the nut, the diaphragm ofthe aperture being such that the plate 54 seats on the spherical surfaceof the nut. By this arrangement the abutment plate 54 is free to move orcant so that the pressure exerted on the plate through the pins 53 willalways be distributed equally between the pins. Adjacent their lowerends within bore 2, each of the pins 53 is preferably provided with anexternal annular groove or slot 55, these grooves preferably being insubstantially the same horizontal plane. Engaging in the grooves 55there is preferably provided a coil spring 55 that encircles the threepins 53 and is under tension urging the pins inwardly tending to cantthe pins. The spring 56 increases the friction between the pins 53 andthe walls of their apertures or bores sufficiently to dampen vibrationof the spring-suspended valve I3 so that the valve will reciprocatesmoothly and so-called chattering of the valve, due to impact of thevalve with its seat, will be substantially eliminated.

The upper coil spring 50 acts against the pressure in chamber 30 to movethe valve l3 away from its seat, and the force exerted by the spring 50may be varied or regulated by rotating the closure plug 46. In thepresent instance, the plug 44 is provided with an arcuate slot or groove58in its upper end for receiving a key 59 by means of which the plug maybe conveniently rotated to regulate the force exerted by spring 50.Enclosing the key 59 and the upper end of the extension member 38 thereis a so-called expansible breather cap 50 that may be formed of rubber.The breather cap 130 has a neck portion 6|, the inner diameter of whichis preferably smaller than the outer diameter of the neck 42 when therubber is in its inert form, so that when the neck of the cap isstretched over the neck of the extension member 38 the rubber of the capneck 6! will be under tension and will tightly engage the outer wallsurface of the extension member neck to provide a good fluidtight sealtherebetween. In the end wall of the closure plug 44 there is anaperture 62 therethrough providing communication between the interior ofthe cap 66. When the diaphragm structure is flexed upwardly, air fromthe interior of the extension member 38 passes into the breather cap 60causing the breather cap to expand, which prevents undue resistance ofthe air to the upward flexing action of the diaphragm.

Referring to the modified form of my diaphragm structure shown in Figs.3, 4. and 5, this structure is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 butdiffers therefrom in that an upper spider or reenforcing member 32instead of the abutment plate 48, has the upwardly directed, extendedportions or fingers, designated at 66, for limiting lateral or sidemovement of the thrust member or spring 50. The central portion 49 of anabutment plate 48 is provided with a plurality of apertures 61therethrough positioned around and outwardly of the spring 53 forreceiving the extended portions or fingers 65 which project therethroughinto chamber 33 The extended portions or fingers E56 may be formed outof the reenforcing plate, as shown in Fig. 5, and besides serving tolimit lateral movement of the lower end of the spring 50, they alsolimit lateral movement of the abutment plate 43 which may be looselysupported on the diaphragm instead of being welded to the spider, as inthe construction of Fig. 1. The fingers 65 extend upwardly,longitudinallg. of the spring 55, and are preferably spaced from thespring, or define a space slightly larger than the diameter of thespring so that the spring will have slight lateral movement and will notbe placed under any undue side strain.

The operation of my herein described expansion valve in connection witha refrigerating system is as follows: The force exerted by the spring 50through the diaphragm 29 and thrust members 53 on the valve member l3tends to move the valve member away from its seat, while the forceexerted by the spring 26 plus the force exerted by the refrigerantmedium on the diaphragm 29 tends to move the valve toward its P seat.Thus the difierence between the opposed forces exerted by the springs 50and 255 will determine the pressure which will be maintained in thechamber M and consequently will determine the pressure which will bemaintained in a reirigerant evaporator with which the valve is employed.For example, if the pressure in chamber 30 remained constant, then theopposing forces acting to move the valve in opposite directions would bein balanced relation and the valve member 13 would be seated. However,the pressure within the evaporator and consequently the pressure inchamber 3% fluctuates, which causes the opposing forces to becomeunbalanced and throttle the valve to maintain the pressure in chamber 30substantially constant or within predetermined pressure limits. When thevalve is throttled, refrigerant enters valve chamber 2 through the valvecontrolled port H and passes from chamber 2 through outlet 9 into theevaporator. As the pressure in the evaporator approaches the desiredpressure, the valve throttles down to decrease the port capacity andamount of refrigerant supplied to the evaporator. By means of theadjustment member 44 the force exerted by the upper spring 5!] may bevaried to change the differential between the forces exerted by spring50 and 25 and thereby regulate the pressure to b maintained in theevaporator.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No.100,264, filed September 11, 1936, for Control devices, now Patent No.2,190,464, dated February 13, 1940.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters "Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a device of the character described, a body, a movable wallcooperating with said body providing a chamber in which fluid pressureacts against one side of said wall, an abutment member loosely supportedby said movable wall and having a plurality of apertures therethrough,and a reenforcing member for said movable wall and interposed betweensaidmovable wall and said abutment member, said reenforcing memberhaving a plurality of spaced extended members extending through saidapertures to limit lateral movement of said loosely disposed abutmentmember.

2. In a device of the character described, an annular border member, aplate-like central portion, a plurality of arm' members connecting saidannular member and said central portion, said central portion having aplurality of ears projecting from the plane of said central portion, anda reenforcing member adjacent said central portion and having aplurality of apertures therethrough receiving said ears.

3. In a device of the character described, an annular border member, aplate-like central portion, a plurality of flexible arm membersconnecting said annular member and said central portion, said armmembers having an embossed portion so that said central portion can moverelative to said border member, said central portion having a pluralityof ears projecting from the plane of said central portion, and areenforcing member adjacent said central portion and having a pluralityof apertures therethrough re ceiving said ears.

4. In a device of the character described, a diaphragm member having anembossed portion and a central portion, an annular border mem berregistering with said diaphragm member, a plate-like central portionadjacent said diaphragm member central portion, a plurality of flexiblearm members connecting said annular member and said plate-like centralportion, said arm members having an embossed portion so that saidplate-like central portion can move relative to said border member, saidarm member embossed portions being in alignment with said diaphragmmember embossed portion, said plate-like central portion having aplurality of ears projecting from the plane of said platelike centralportion, and a reenforcing member adjacent said plate-like centralportion and having a plurality of apertures therethrough receiving saidears.

5. In a device of the character described, a wall member having arecessed wall, a diaphragm disposed against said wall member andoverlying said recessed Wall, a diaphragm reenforcing spider positionedagainst and separate from said diaphragm, said spider having acontinuous marginal portion and a central portion secured to saidmarginal portion by a plurality of flexible arm members, a supportingmember overlying and having a portion securing said diaphragm and saidspider to said wall member, said diaphragm and said recessed wallcooperating to form a pressure chamber, means under stress interposedbetween said supporting member and said spider for urging said diaphragmin one direction, means integral with and carried by said centralportion for positioning said stressed means, and control means operatedby said diaphragm due to pressure changes in said chamber.

6 In a device of the character described, a wall member having arecessed wall, a diaphragm disposed against said wall member andoverlying said recessed wall, a diaphragm reenforcing spider positionedagainst and separate from said diaphragm, said spider having acontinuous marginal portion and a central portion secured to saidmarginal portion by a plurality of flexible arm members, said centralportion having a plurality of upstanding ears extending away from theplane of said diaphragm, a plate-like abutment member having a pluralityof apertures registering with said ears, said abutment memher having aportion in engagement with said central portion and a portion spacedfrom the plane of said diaphragm, a supporting member overlying andhaving a portion securing said diaphragm and said spider to said wallmember, said diaphragm and said recessed wall cooperating to form apressure chamber, said supporting member having a portion overlying saiddiaphragm and spaced therefrom, said supporting member portion formingan abutmentfor engagement by said abutment member portion to limitmovement of said diaphragm in one direction, means under stressinterposed between said supporting member and said spider for ur ingsaid diaphragm in a direction opposite to said one direction, andcontrol means operated by said diaphragm due to pressure changes in saidchamber.

7. In a device of the character described, a body, a movable wallcooperable with said body providing a chamber within which fluidpressure acts against one side of said wall, an abutment member carriedby said movable wall and having a plurality of apertures therethrough,and a reenforcing member for said movable wall and positioned betweensaid movable wall and said abutment member and having a plurality ofspaced extended members extending through said apertures for positioningsaid abutment ment member.

8. In a device of the character described, a flexible diaphragm memberhaving an annular channel, a flexible reenforcing member having acentral portion, an annular border portion and a plurality of flexiblearms, said border portion being joined to said central portion by saidarms, each of said arms extending across said channel and having atransverse channel registering with said annular channel, and meanssecuring said border portion to the periphery of said diaphragm member.

9. In a device of the character described, a flexible diaphragm memberhaving an annular channel, a flexible reenforcing member having acentral portion, an annular border portion and a plurality of flexiblearms, said border portion being joined to said central portion by saidarms, each of said arms extending across said channel and having atransverse channel registering with said annular channel, a transverseflange projecting from the edge of said diaphragm member, and meansengaging said flange and securing said border portion to the peripheryof said diaphragm member.

10. In a device of the character described, a wall member having anopening with a surrounding seat, an imperforate diaphragm supported onsaid seat and closing said opening, a resilient sheet materialreinforcing member extending across said diaphragm and overlying saidseat, a reinforcing sheet material plate member seating on saidreinforcing member and having an abutment rim spaced from saidreinforcing member, spaced sheet material thrust member positioningfingers extending from one of said reinforcing members and away fromsaid diaphragm, and means securing said diaphragm and said resilientreinforcing member to said seat.

11. In a device of the character described, a resilient diaphragm, aresilient reinforcing sheet material member extending across and movablewith said diaphragm, a reinforcing plate member supported on said sheetmember, spaced positioning fingers extending from said sheet member andlimiting lateral movement of said plate member, and a coil springseating against said plate member and positioned by said fingers.

DANIEL D. WILE.

